EDUCATION TOUR TO CHENNAI, BENGALURU AND MYSORE FLAGGED IN

RAJOURI:  A Rashtriya Rifles Battalion under the aegis of Counter Insurgency Force (Romeo) organised a fourteen day tour comprising 23 Students and 2 Teachers to Chennai, Bengaluru and Mysore from 03 Jan to 16 Jan.  The children mostly of age group between 11 to 17 years, are from remote and far flung area of Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir.  

 

The tour culminated with flagging in ceremony at Saaj today. Commander Sector Rashtriya Rifles welcomed and received the jubilant children and the accompanying teachers.  A large number of civil dignitaries were also present during the ceremony.  The aim of the educational tour was to give exposure to young children about varied developments that are taking place in rest of the country and to introduce them to plethora of cultures, people and landscapes of out nation. 

During their visit to Chennai, the children met and interacted with the Commandant Training Academy Chennai and were also give a tour of the institution.   

They also visited Guindy National Crocodile Park, AVM Film Studio, Golden and Marina Beaches, Mahabalipuram and Tank Factory, Avadi.   While their stay at Bengaluru they  were taken to  Hindustan Aeronautics Limited,  BHEL,  Vishweshwara Museum, Indian Air Force  Training Centre, Vidhan Sabha, Lal Bagh, Cubbon Park Brigade Road, Banner Ghatta National Park, Rose Garden, Ulsoor Lake,  Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain,  Majestic Bazar, Wonder La Water Theme Park and  Isckon Temple. In the last phase of their tour they were taken to Mysore and they visited Mysore Palace, Brindavan Garden and Zoo, Mysore Museum, Birds Sanctuary and Banmore Falls. 

The Education Tour exposed the children to the rapid developments taking place in other parts of our country. Incidentally most of the children had never ventured out of Rajouri district boundaries before. The excitement of children, on being shown a different world away from their underdeveloped villages was visible on their faces. While speaking to the media the Commander said that this tour has been an eye opener for the children and it has benefitted them in understanding the varied culture and heritage of our nation.  It is his earnest endeavor to integrate these children in the mainstream as the budding future of Jammu and Kashmir and India with rest of the country by means of providing them the best a child must get.

Mustaq Ahmad aged 14 years while speaking to the media said that he had an experience of a lifetime by visiting these places.   Another child Abrar Hussain aged 16 years told the media that it seems as if all his dreams have come true.  So far he had seen these places only in television or read about these places only in his general knowledge books.  Mr. Virender Kumar, one of the teachers accompanying the tour said that the successful completion of this tour has resulted in fostering closer relationship between the locals and the army. It has also developed a deep sense of belonging to the national mainstream amongst these children of remote areas. The enthusiasm and glow on the face of all children clearly showed that they thoroughly enjoyed and learned from this unique experience.